This prospective study was designed to evaluate the immediate postoper
ative course and long-term efficacy of septal stents. In 20 patients w
ho underwent primary septorhinoplasty, Doyle II silicone stents were i
nserted bilaterally parallel to the septum. The stents were removed af
ter an average of 3.3 days. A hollow tube was designed into this parti
cular stent in an attempt to minimize patients discomfort from nasal a
irway obstruction. Subjective ratings of airway improvement were very
similar for patients whose septums were supported with nasal stents an
d for those patients from our 1989 study whose noses were treated with
nasal packing. However, the number of patients who complained about d
iscomfort was substantially higher in the stent group, 60% (12 of 20),
compared with the nasal packing group, 22% (5 of 23 patients) (p < 0.
05). The percentage of partial residual or recurrent septal deviation
was also slightly higher in the stent group, 25% (5 of 20), than in th
e packing group, 13% (3 of 23 patients), but this was not statisticall
y significant (p > 0.50). The alar base incision was partially dehisce
d during removal of the stent in one patient, in spite of a routine re
duction in the width of the splint.